Fireman&#39;s helmet



March 11, 1930. M. D. COLLINS 1,749,998

FIREMAN S HELMET Fil ed April 4, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M. D. COLLINS FIREMANS HELMET Filed April 4, 1 928 March 11, 1930.

Patented Mar. 11, 1930 Q UNITED STATES MERRILL D. COLLIN S, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN EN'r orr cr.

FIREMANS HELMET Application filed April 4,

This invention relates to helmets or like head coverings carrying an illuminating device, and more particularly to a helmet such as is ordinarily worn by firemen during their work in extinguishing blazes in buildings light upon a helmet arranged to-be controlled by a switch operable by the head of the person wearingthe helmet to enable illumination of the fiashlightbulb"whenever desired and the continued illumination as long as desired,

While nsg he hands of the wearer for otherwork. a j

The above and other objects will be apparent from the following description, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferredembodiment of my invention andwherein similar reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several Views.

i In the drawings:

Figured isa sideelevatlon of afiiremans helmet construction substantially in accord ance with myinvention. a

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is afrontview thereof.

Figure 4 isacentral longitudinal section" taken substantiallyon the line 4 4 of Figure2. V

Figure 5 is a detail cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig 1928. serial at. 267,232.

the threaded end members atare exposed to falling water, broken glass, etc. V

Such helmets are usually constructed of sheet metal or other comparatively heavy material, and are so braced by ribs, corrugations, and a the like, as to render the rin and crown: of the helmet substantially rigi It is to be understood, however, that the illustration herein of such firemans helmet is merely for purposes of exemplification, and that my invention is adaptable for use on helmets of Va rious shapes and uses. As herein shown, my improved helmet comprises a rim 6 and crown 7, preferably formed of sheet metal, so shaped and stiffenedby beads 8 or corrugations 9, as to render-it substantially rigid. Unlike the usual firemenshelmets, my improved helmet is formed with a substantially central, longitudinally extending grooved portion 10 in its crown, such grooved portion being herein shown as formed by shaping the upper poltion of the crown to receive substantially cylindrical dry cells for illuminating electric light bulbs, or the cylindrical body portion of a well known type of flashlight. Suitably securedto the crown portion of the helmet;,as by welding, brazing, etc, is a cover plate 11, preferably shaped substantially as illustrated herein, with its central portionelevated above the sides thereof a sufiicient distance to enable the insertion with a comparatively close fit, of cylindrical dry cells or the cylindrical portion of an ordinary flashlight between the under side of the coverplate 11 and the grooved portion 10 of the helmet. Thisarrangeme-nt also provides slopingsides from the substantially central uppermost portion of the helmet, whereby water'or falling obj ects will bedeflected. Each side portion'of the cover plate 11 is secured to the crown? 9 of the helmet throughout the major portion of its length, the end portions of the cover plate being preferably downwardly and inwardly bent until their edges are adjacent, to thereby form with the central portion ofthe ga bu cover plate guide rings 12 for the reception of hollow, cylindrical end pieces 13 and 14 (note Figure 4) the projecting portions of which are preferably threaded substantially as shown. On the threaded end portion 13 may be removably secured an assembly 15 such as is ordinarily used upon flashlights and including a casing having a threaded rear ortion and enclosing a reflector, an electric ight bulb and socket and the edge of'a transparent lens. Various arrangements of these elements are well known in the trade, and practically all of them are adaptable for use on my improved helmet. The bulb is preferably threaded through its socket so that the rear terminalof its filament projects into engagement with a terminal of the cell nearest the bulb. Upon the threaded member 14 may be threaded a rearcap 16 preferably carrying 1 a substantially centrally disposed coil spring 17 for engagement with the bottom of the rearmost cell to press the several cells utilized for illuminating the bulb into engagement with each other, and the foremost cell into enement with the projecting terminal of the l b. Obviously the cap 16 may be removed at will to permit removal of the cells and substitution of others without disturbin the bulb carrying assembly 15. Intermediate the ends of the grooved portion 10 of the helmet V is arranged a switch 18 for opening or closing a circuit to illuminate the bulb, the switch being preferably of the normall open type and o erable upon the raising o the pin 19, as w llen the pin is engaged by the member 20 secured upon the flexible lining 21 of the helmet. The pin 19 preferably passes through an apertured rubber gasket fitted into an opening in the grooved portion 10 of the helmet, both to position the pin 19 and aid in insulating the bulb lighting circuit. The member 20 may also be of rubber, fibre, or other suitable insulating material, and sewed or otherwise secured upon the upper face of the lining 21.

Within the crown 7 of the helmet I preferabl provide means for permitting a comforta le seat upon the head of the wearer, and also for snugly positioning the helmet upon the head in various positions, whereby the head of the wearer will be instrumental in maintaining the switch of the flash light in closed position whenever desired. As best illustrated in Figures 46, I have arranged a sweat band 22 of leather or the like, with a 7 split wire ring 23 secured to the lower edge ereof and adapted to hold the lower edge of the sweat band within a bead 24 at the base of the crown 7 of the helmet. Adjacent the lower extremity, the sweat band extends inwardly for a distance sufiicient to permit the insertion of a ring 25 of rubber or other soft material, which is preferably formed with an inwardly projecting rib 26 ad acent its lower edge. The rubberring 25 engages the lower extremity of the lining 21 and serves to aid in positioning the lining. The lining 21 may be of silk or other fabric, stifl'ened at its central portion to prevent collapsing under the weight of the member 20 when the helmet is removed from the head of the wearer. By virtue of this arrangement, the helmet may be supported upon the head of the wearer with a cushioning effect, the soft rubber ring 25 and the spaced position of the sweat band 22 from the metal crown 7 permitting distortion of the sweat band and ring to i accommodate themselves to the shape of the head of the wearer. Moreover, the elasticity of the rubber ring 25 and'sweat band 22 permits a firm support with the helmet in various positions upon the head of the wearer, whereby the helmet can be supported without the top of the head of the wearer pressing the pin 19 to close the switch to illuminate the bulb of the flashlight, or will hold the helmet in a position wherein the top of the head of the wearer does effect the closing of the switch and the maintenance of the switch in closed position as long as desired.

In practically all firemens helmets in use today, there is provided a shield 27 serving to identify the wearer, and also to ornament the helmet. The shield shown herein is merely exemplary, and is provided with an aperture 28 for the passage of the assembly 15 carrying the illuminating bulb when such assembly is being secured upon the threaded end member 13. The shield 27 may be secured on the crown of the hat in any desired manner, as by means of bolts 29 and nuts 30. Further ornamentation, such as an eagle head 31, may also be utilized as desired, the eagle head being herein shown as riveted upon the cover plate 11 and with its beak extending through a notch in the top of the shield 27.

In use, my improved helmet is provided with suitable dry cells arranged beneath the cover plate 11, and maintained in engagement with the terminal of the bulb element by means of the spring 17 on the adjustable rear cap 16. The switch for illuminating the bulb isnormally open, and remains open until the member 20 upon the lining 21 of the hat is pressed upwardly into engagement with the pin 19 of the switch, as by contact of the lining by the head of a wearer of the helmet. The elastic sweat band arrangement permits the firm gripping of, the helmet upon the head of the wearer with the bulb illuminated by the closing of the switch as above described, whereby the hands of the wearer are freed for carrying a hose or doing other work. Whenever it is desired to extinguish the bulb of the flashlight, it is only necessary to push. the helmet upwardly to relieve the pressure of the top of the head of the wearer against the lining 21, the lining thereupon flexing slightly under the weight of the member to'permit the opening of the switch controlling the illumination of the bulb. The

simplicity and practicability of my improved helmet is believed to be apparent. The arrangement of the flashlight permits a nice balance of the helmet, and does not material- 1y detract fromthe ornamental appearance of the helmet. Moreover, the arrangement of i the cover plate 11 is such that the use of the not unpaired.

tion is susceptible to variation, modification and change within the spiritand scope of the. subjoined claims.

i What I claim is:

1. In a helmet including a crown having a grooved portion therein, a cover plate secured to the crown so as to bridge said grooved portlon, a pair of threaded end mem- L bers secured to the cover plate, a flashlight bulb assembly mounted upon one of said end a members, batteries for energizing the flashlight bulb arranged in the grooved portion,

and an adjustable" cap mounted upon the other threaded end section.

2. In a helmet including a crown having a grooved portion therein, a cover plate secured to the crown so as to bridge said grooved portion,'a pair of threaded end members secured to the cover plate, electric dry cells movably mounted within said grooved portion, a flashlight bulb assembly mounted upon one of said end portions with a terminal of the bulb engaging the adjacent cell, and an adjustable rear cap mounted upon the other end member and arranged to press the cells into engagement with a terminal of the bulb.

8. In a helmet including a crown having a grooved portion therem, a cover plate secured to the crown so as to bridge said grooved portion, a pair of threaded end members secured to the cover plate, electric dry cells movably mounted within said grooved portion, a flashlight bulb assembly mounted upon one of said end portions with a terminal of the bulb engaging the adjacent cell, and an adjustable rear cap mounted upon the other end member and arranged to press the cells into engagement with a terminal of the bulb, a switch for controlling the illumination of the bulb from the cells including an operating member extending through the crown of the helmet, and means arranged within the crown for moving said operating 7 member when desired.

sloping sides and a grooved portion in its top, a cover plate arranged to bridge the 4. A metallic helmet having a crown with grooved portion and also formed with sloping sides, a shield mounted forwardly of the crown and having an aperture therein in substantially horizontal alignment with said groovedportion, a flashlight assembly arranged in the grooved portion and with its bulb carrying end projecting through the aperture in the shield, and means for illuminating the bulb at will.

5. A metallic helmet having a crown with sloping sides and a grooved portion in its top, a cover plate arranged to bridge the grooved portion and also formed with sloping sides, a shield mountedforwardly of the crown and having an aperture therein in. substantially horizontal alignment with said groovedportion, a flashlight assembly arranged in the grooved portion and with its hulb carrying end projecting through the aperture in the shield, and means for illuminating the bulb at will, including a switch having an operating member extending into the interior of the crown, and a flexible lining secured within the crown and carrying a member adapted to engage said operating member.

6. A metallic helmet having a crown with sloping sides and a grooved portion in its top, a cover plate arranged to bridge the grooved portion and also formed with slop ing sides, a shield mounted forwardly of the crown and having an aperture therein in substantially horizontal alignment with said grooved portion, a flashlight assembly arranged in the grooved portion and with its bulb carrying end projecting through the aperture in the shield, and means for illuminating the bulb at will, including a switch having an operating member extending into the interior of the crown, a flexible lining secured within the crown and carrying a member adapted to engage said operating member, and means arranged within the crown for snugly positioning the helmet upon the head of a wearer in various positions, whereby the head of the wearer may press the flexible lining to move said operating member of the switch.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand.

MERRILL D. COLLINS. 

